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Official newspaper of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Vol 04 issue 04 July 2022 PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA WWW.PARLIAMENT.GOV.ZA #PARLIAMENTOFRSA 2 INSESSION NEWS Editor Brent Simons Production editor Mava Lukani Design and layout Vishaal Lalla Copy editors Jane Henshall Writers Sakhile Mokoena, Sureshinee Govender, Rajaa Azzakani, Mava Lukani Photography Zwelethemba Kostile Distribution & subscriptions Jacqueline Zils Publisher Parliament of the Republic of South Africa Section Manager: Publishing and Production Shirley Montsho Copyright INSESSION is is published by the Information and Content Development Unit of the Parliamentary Communication Services of the Parliament of the Republic of South Africa.
All material published is copyrighted and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher.

EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES Telephone 021 403 8738 Fax 021 403 8096 E-mail insession@parliament.gov.za Subscriptions jzils@parliament.gov.za Post PO Box 15, Cape Town, 8000 OUR IDEALS Vision An activist and responsive people’s Parliament that improves the quality of life of South Africans and ensures enduring equality in our society.
• • • • • Strategic Objectives Strengthening oversight and accountability; enhancing public involvement; deepening engagement in international fora; strengthening cooperative government; strengthening legislative capacity.

BOOK A TOUR To tour Parliament Telephone 021 403 2266 Fax 021 403 3817 E-mail tours@parliament.gov.za Chairperson Masondo marked Mandela Day by planting trees for clean & healthy communities CLIMATE ACTION: NCOP Chairperson plants trees for Mandela Day at a school in Soweto.
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, marked International Nelson Mandela Day by planting trees at Dr BW Vilakazi Secondary School in Soweto, where he also gave a talk on the importance of taking care of the environment and cleaning up in our communities.

Mr Masondo was accompanied by Members from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality councillors, who all planted seven False Olive trees at the school.
In his message to teachers, learners and the community, Mr Masondo articulated the importance of a clean environment for human health and spoke about how trees are a source of life to all living organisms.

“There is more to be done in the battle for a clean environment.

A clean and safe environment is critical for our survival and health, and issues of the dumping of trash on the streets.
environment are critical and concerns People clean their yards and dump on the global community,” Mr Masondo street corners and open spaces.

And told his audience.

that is wrong,” he pointed out.


International Nelson Mandela Day is Mr Masondo also encouraged the a global initiative that aims to carry community to establish food gardens forward Madiba’s message of peace, and plant indigenous trees in their his courage in the face of adversity and yard, as there are huge health and his commitment to improving the lives economic benefits to taking care of not just South Africans, but all the of the environment and keeping people of the world.
neighbourhoods clean and green.

The NCOP Chairperson said the trees The school, in Zola, was named after Dr planted at the school are not simply Benedict Wallet Vilakazi, an academic a means of greening the school.

They and novelist, who was one of the first are also a response to the United black South Africans to obtain a PhD.
Nations’ call for the world to protect, He was a lecturer at the University of restore and promote sustainable use of Witwatersrand and wrote novels and the environment, help combat climate poetry in isiZulu.

change and combat desertification.

Dr Vilakazi not only contributed to the “The theme for Mandela Day this development of literature and the year was ‘Doing what you can with Zulu language, he also had interest in what you have, wherever you are’,” freedom and liberation.
Vilakazi Street, Mr Masondo said.

“This is our way of a popular tourist attraction in Soweto, contributing what we can to be part of is also named after this celebrated this global effort.

It is a continuation man.

Vilakazi Street is possibly the of work that has already started – only street in the world that has the cleaning and greening initiative.
had two Nobel Peace Prize winners We must promote environmentally as residents: Nelson Mandela and cautious lifestyles and discourage Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
CONSTITUENCY WORK 3 Parliamentary Constituency Offices are extensions of Parliament, says NCOP Chairperson Previously the Joint Standing Committee on the Financial Management of Parliament, a committee established in 2016 to oversee the governance of the national legislature, pointed out that Parliamentary Constituency Offices (PCO) are underutilized.

The committee held inadequate monitoring systems responsible for the problem.
There was also a concern that issues, crime and identity document constituency offices are inadequately applications.

The PCO refers people to monitored and that this has made it the relevant departments for furthers impossible to confirm whether the assistance, especially on matters that offices exist as indicated and whether fall outside the responsibilities of they are operational.

Parliament.
Parliament.

The Chairperson of the National “We also intervene on big issues, Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos such as the ongoing electricity Masondo, recently relaunched and crisis and disagreements between branded his PCO in Soweto in an the community and Eskom on the effort to increase awareness about installation of prepaid smart metre these important service points and boxes in households,” Mr Masondo places for public representatives to continued.
remain in contact with the people they represent.

“PCOs are designed to provide a platform to educate and empower the people with information and on how to take part in processes pertaining to how they are governed.

PCOs are often not well-understood, but they are an extension of Parliament to the numerous communities across the country.

They are meant to bring Parliament closer to the people, to ensure that we maximise the interaction between Parliament and the communities,” he said.
Some of the common things PCOs deal with are advising on inheritance “An ideal PCO at this stage in our democracy must increase its networking capacity to be able to locate relevant expertise and specialist centres that are equipped to assist the people to resolve their problems.

“Creating an ideal PCO will require a number of interventions.

These may include improving the capacity we employ to assist with the day-to-day running of the facility.
These are, of course, matters that Parliament, the provincial legislatures and municipal councils must think about as they collaborate to take the PCOs to another level,” said the NCOP Chairperson.

He added that in order to support the notion of a people-centred democracy, structures such as the Parliamentary Constituency Offices have been located among the people to help strengthen the interaction between the people and their public representatives.
The Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Amos Masondo, has launched his Parliamentary Constituency Office (PCO), which will service about seven townships within greater Soweto.

The full name for the PCO is ZOJAZEM/ we realised was that at times the MOTLANA, with ZOJAZEM standing for best approach is to take incremental Zola, Jabulani, Zondi and Emndeni, steps to introduce change.

We have while MOTLANA stands for Moletsane, realised that we need to start with Tladi and Naledi.
These areas all form some few examples to demonstrate part of the greater South Western the potential of the PCOs to become Townships (formally known by its vibrant centres of interaction between abbreviation Soweto).

the public representatives and their communities.” Mr Masondo says the PCO is an extension of Parliament and will The NCOP Chairperson also highlighted meaningfully serve the public by the services the PCOs will provide strengthening the interaction between to the Soweto community.
These the people and public representatives.

include assisting the public in dealing “Parliamentary Constituency Offices are with government processes and service and interaction points for public departments; and informing and representatives to remain in contact engaging the public and getting their with the people they represent.

These feedback on the effectiveness of centres are designed to provide a policies and programmes.
platform to educate and empower the people with information, and on how The ZOJAZEM/MOTLANA PCO will to take part in processes pertaining also get involved in finding solutions to how they are governed,” said Mr to problems and bring concerns to Masondo.

the attention of government.


It will also provide informal advice and Addressing hundreds of residents who counselling on personal, legal and attended the launch of the PCO, which procedural problems with accessing is housed at Entokozweni Community rights or government processes.

Centre in Moletsane, Mr Masondo explained how over the years there Mr Masondo said the PCO will act as have been many ideas on how the honest broker and mediator between PCOs should work.
One such idea was conflicting interests – often community to bring together representatives from and government, or conflicting interest national Parliament, the Provincial groups in a community.

“We do not Legislature and the Municipal Council have perfect solutions and we do not under one roof and in communication believe there are [perfect solutions].

with the people.
with the people.

Our attitude is that improvement can result from taking one step in the right “There have been many efforts to get direction, learning from the impact of PCOs to work better for the people,” one’s action and using that to make said Mr Masondo.

“There have been further improvements as one moves many ideas on how this could be done forward,” said Mr Masondo.

and little time to experiment.


What 4 INSESSION NEWS Residents welcome PCO launch Parliamentary Communication Services talked to a few individuals to get their views on the launch of the PCO in Soweto.

Ms Busisiwe Shabalala We are so grateful to see the launch of parliamentary processes and how can we participate in those processes as ordinary citizens, on processes such as petitions or making inputs on draft legislation.

Ms Duduzile Bhelema I think PCO coming to Soweto is a very good idea.
I believe it will help with the many challenges facing our community, such as the problem of the Parliamentary Constituency Office drugs that our young people are in our community.

This will give us an faced with.

opportunity to raise our concerns with parliamentarians and we hope our I think it will help bring more resources concerns will receive the necessary to our community to help deal with attention with the presence of the the scourge of drugs in Soweto.

We PCO in our area.
We PCO in our area.

I also think this is an expecting more services to come with opportunity for us to learn more about the launch of the PCO in our township.

BRINGING PARLIAMENT HOME: Soweto residents attend a ceremony marking the launch of the Parliamentary Constituency Office in their neighbourhood.

Mr Mokonoto I stay around the area.


I have known I believe if community cooperate and the name PCO, but today is the first things are done in a rightful way, the time that I get inside the building and PCO can be effective and help bring also get more information about what change in our area.
People responsible the PCO is and what it is all about; that for running the PCO must make sure it it is going to be the Parliament of this serves its purpose, but if people use it place and matters of the community for other agendas, it is not going will be taken to Parliament and other to work.

relevant structures of the state.

CONSTITUENCY WORK 5 NCOP CHIEF WHIP: Mr Seiso Mohai in Welkom.
Mining industry remains untransformed, says NCOP Chief Whip The Chief Whip of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP), Mr Seiso Mohai, addressed a Mining Stakeholders Consultative Forum in Welkom in the Free State recently as part of the Nelson Mandela Month celebrations.
The theme for this year’s Mandela Month was “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are”, which Mr Mohai said encourages all of us to rededicate ourselves to doing what we can to change people’s lives with what we have and wherever we are.

The Chief Whip pointed out that the Welkom area of the Free State is known for the mining activity that has been a source of employment and also hardship for many communities.
The Goldfields region comprising the districts of Odendaalsrus, Virginia and Welkom is the largest gold mining region in South Africa and provides a South Africa.

However, the mining industry underpinning the minerals- energy complex remains in place to a large degree since 1994 and the beginning democracy.

Paradoxically, the mining industry has demonstrated little commitment to structural transformation and inclusive economic growth.
In recent times, Mr Mohai said, there has been much talk of a decline in mining activity in many parts of the country, including in the Free State.

And while coal, gold and uranium mines still operate in the area, it is imperative that new mining activity is developed.

Small-scale mining should also form a critical part of that new mining activity.
The mining industry in South Africa remains largely untransformed and the recent court ruling on the Mining Charter, declaring the charter to be policy not law, has reinforced the status quo.

This is a further demonstration of the untransformed nature of the mining industry, Mr snapshot of the institutionalisation of Mohai said.
The excessive power and dominance This makes more urgent the need for of mining companies needs to be national and provincial governments reformed and transformed so that the to ensure that the priority minerals priority minerals (lithium, graphite, identified for exploitation by the cobalt, nickel, and copper) deemed Council for Geosciences is managed critical to the transition to a green to prevent capital flight in the mining economy identified by the Council for industry.
The government needs to Geosciences can benefit us all.

The establish a new regulatory framework demand for these priority minerals for licencing for the new round of complements the already exploited mining licences that will arise from the gold, silver, bentonite and bituminous Council for Geosciences’ survey.
coal, which makes the mining industry one of the biggest contributors Social and labour plans are in place to both to gross domestic product and ensure that mining towns are able to employment in the province.

benefit from mining activities and are not left without any economic activity mining and energy, what Mr Mohai called the minerals-energy complex, in South Africa during the apartheid regime.
This complex has been ignored or at best dismissed as a concept for examining the South African economy, Mr Mohai said, primarily because we live in a democratic In addition, it is important to know that mining activity will continue for a long time in this area and is not in decline.

The Council for Geoscience is engaged in a countrywide survey to find new mineral deposits and this has produced some promising results.

This work is ongoing.

While the future looks bright for when mines close.
However, mining the Free State, unfortunately for the companies have been slow to ensure province, most mining companies that these plans are implemented controlling these mineral resources for the benefit the local communities are international or have international in mining towns such Welkom.

The head offices.

Thus their profits, Department of Mineral Resources and dividends and interest leave the Energy needs to ensure that mining province and the country.

companies comply with these plans.


6 INSESSION NEWS Committee for Enquiry into the Public Protector’s fitness to hold office cross-examines witnesses HOLDING OFFICE BEARERS TO ACCOUNT: The committee gets on with business.

and other related matters.


Mr Ebrahim went into great detail about the historical background of the Office of the Public Protector, including how it was established, procedural fairness and the route to follow to remove the Public Protector, with definitions of misconduct and incompetence.

This was followed by evidence from Mr Johann van Loggerenberg, who previously worked at the South African Revenue Service (SARS).
Mr van Loggerenberg was accused of being involved in the so-called “rogue” SARS unit, an intelligence unit set up to investigate high-profile tax payers.

A complaint was apparently subsequently laid with the Office of the Public Protector, wherein the complainant claimed that SARS did not have such powers.

This was followed from evidence from a subpoenaed witness, Mr Tebogo Kekana, who previously worked in Public Protector’s private office as an investigator.
His testimony dealt mainly with the PP’s SARB report.

Mr Kekana went into great detail regarding the compilation of information and drafting of the Public Protector’s CIEX/ Bankkorp/SARB report.

During this testimony, Mr Kekana claimed he was instructed by the PP to add findings to nationalise the SARB.

The committee then adjourned its hearings for one week to allow the PP and her legal team to prepare for further court proceedings.
After the break, the committee resumed its work with evidence from Mr Sphelo Samuel, the head of the Public Protector’s Free State office.

His testimony mostly concerned the Vrede Dairy investigation.

The Committee for Section 194 Enquiry into the Public Protector (PP) Adv Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has covered significant ground in hearings that began on 11 July 2022.
This progress has been achieved notwithstanding a one- week break requested by Adv Mkhwebane’s legal team to afford them a chance to prepare for court proceedings involving the Public Protector, writes Rajaa Azzakani.

The committee began its hearings into Adv Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office with opening remarks from both legal teams.

Adv Nazreen Bawa (SC) and Adv Ncumisa Mayosi appeared on behalf of the committee, whilst Adv Dali Mpofu appeared for the Public Protector.
The committee was established by the National Assembly (NA) on 16 March 2021 to conduct an enquiry into the PP’s fitness to hold office.

This follow a motion in the NA on 21 February 2020 from the Chief Whip of the Democratic Alliance, Ms Natasha Mazzone, who tabled a motion to initiate an enquiry, in terms of section 194 of the Constitution, for the removal of Adv Mkhwebane, on the grounds of alleged incompetence and/or misconduct.
the motion, the evidence in support of the motion, the Public Protector’s The committee heard that attempts Subsequently, the former Speaker written representations to the Panel were allegedly made by Adv of the National Assembly, Ms Thandi and additional evidence submitted by Mkhwebane to ensure that no adverse Modise, acting in terms of Rule 129U her.
The report was served before the findings against politicians were of the Removal Rules, established National Assembly on 16 March 2021 contained in the report.

This included an independent panel to conduct a and the Assembly resolved to proceed findings against the former Premier preliminary assessment to determine whether, on the information available, with a section 194 enquiry.
of the Free State, Mr Ace Magashule, and the former Free State MEC for there is prima facie evidence showing Following the adoption of the Agriculture, Mr Mosebenzi Zwane.

that the PP has committed misconduct Independent Panel’s report, it was and/or is incompetent.

referred, in terms of the Removal Committee Chairperson Mr Qubudile Rules to the Committee for Section Dyantyi previously said the committee The Independent Panel submitted 194 Enquiry, for a formal enquiry.
Since has a list of over 20 possible its report on 24 February 2021 and its inception the committee has had witnesses, but it may not call on all of recommended, for the reasons to stop it work several times whilst them to testify.

The PP is entitled to contained in its report, that the awaiting court decisions.

call her own witnesses.


The committee charges of incompetence and intended to finalise its work by the misconduct be referred to a committee After the opening remarks from both end of September, but Chairperson of the NA, as provided for in the sides, the evidence leaders then Dyantyi has already indicated that the Removal Rules.

The Panel report is 10 396 pages long and includes an index, called Mr Hassen Ebrahim, a witness experienced in constitutional drafting committee’s programme is flexible.
PUBLIC HEARINGS 7 “..we are all equal before the law, irrespective of the labour market that one finds him/herself in...” Ms Lindelwa Dunjwa, Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour PEOPLE LIVE HERE: Two National Assembly portfolio committees are holding public hearings to assess living and working conditions on farms.
Committees assess living and working conditions of farm workers in five provinces Delegations representing the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the Portfolio Committee on Employment and Labour visited Gauteng, North West, Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces in July as part of their joint oversight to farms to assess the living and working conditions of farm workers and dwellers.
The joint oversight programme formed part of the implementation of a National Assembly resolution adopted on 10 November 2020 instructing both committees to assess the legislation and explore opportunities for legislative review in relation to the living and working conditions of farmer workers and dwellers.
During the public hearings that Addressing one of the public hearings on government officials to make formed part of the joint committee in Gauteng, Ms Dunjwa said that the themselves more readily available.

programme, farm dwellers spoke of farming sector stood out for all the the pain their living conditions cause wrong reasons.

“We have to right this Both delegations heard in North West them.
Farmers abuse their workers by wrong if we are to instil the human from the Congress of the South African forcibly evicting them, disconnecting dignity of this vulnerable sector of our Trade Unions that out of 6 000 workers their water and electricity and committing other abuses against them, population and labour market.

This nationwide oversight process, which employed by one farmer in a certain farm in the province, 4 000 of those they reported.
Farm workers are also has now been to six provinces, seeks workers are foreign nationals who forced to pay high rents of as much as to unveil the yoke of servitude that accept wages below the minimum R800 to farmers, notwithstanding their happens under the cloak of secrecy wage.

The delegations called on The first part of the oversight low wages of between R1 500 and on farms.

[It also seeks to] urge the the Department of Employment and comprised stakeholder engagements R3 000 per month.
departments and entities charged with Labour to conduct inspections to with labour unions, non-governmental organisations, government departments and local municipalities in all the five provinces.

Committee members urged these stakeholders to do all they can to alleviate the the task of alleviating the plight of ascertain whether the workers are The Chairperson of the Portfolio farm workers to act in a concerted and documented foreign nationals or not.
Committee on Employment and well-coordinated effort to bring an end Labour and leader of one delegation, to their miseries,” she said.

The delegations also heard of the Ms Lindelwa Dunjwa, emphasised flagrant disregard of women’s rights.

that MPs are visiting these farm However, for this to happen, Women farm workers are dismissed terrible conditions afflicting many farm communities not only to hear their workers and dwellers.

cries, but to act on them.


Parliament and the government must be bold enough to recognise for being pregnant and are also denied the right to maternity leave.

existing inefficiencies in policies and legislation, Ms Dunjwa added.

The oversight process seeks to make farm owners aware of their regulatory responsibilities.
“But if, at the end, we find that there are weaknesses in the existing policies and pieces of legislation that govern labour relations, we will address them to ensure that the working and living conditions of farm workers and dwellers stand the test of our human rights culture.

Because we are all equal before the law, irrespective of the labour market that one finds him/ herself in,” Ms Dunjwa said.
Responding to a complaint from farm dwellers in North West province about a lack support from government officials, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development and the leader of the other delegation, Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela, called 8 INSESSION NEWS WE HEAR YOU: Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela (left) listens to a farm worker during a site visit.
Many farm workers and labourers are employees should be one of the needs to be finished within a very unfairly dismissed and they rarely win pillars of this farm to keep it alive, limited time.

When the delegation their cases when they approach the sustainable and to make the required visited the houses to assess the living Commission for Conciliation, Mediation meaningful impact on the greater conditions of farm dwellers, all the and Arbitration.
Patensie community for the purposes foreign nationals there fled.

Some of of the development of the historically them ran to the top of the Patensie The delegations also heard in all the marginalised and disadvantaged black mountain and others to the river.

provinces that in some instances as Patensie communities,” emphasised The delegation concluded that they many as seven farm workers live in Ms Dunjwa.

behaved in this way because they are a small house and paying as much as R700 per person in rent.
Farm dwellers told the delegations that the Department of Employment and Labour does not conduct regular inspections of their living and working conditions.

They also alleged that child labour is being used on one farm.

In the Eastern Cape, Ms Dunjwa’s delegation visited four big citrus farms, two in the Sara Baartman District Municipality and two in Amathole District Municipality.
The delegation heard from its engagements with stakeholders that many farms in the Sara Baartman District Municipality comply with labour laws and respect their workers.

The delegation commended the farm manager of the Ventershoek farm in Sara Baartman for the farm’s compliance with labour laws and its respect for human rights.
“Empowerment of your employees should be one of the pillars of this farm to keep it alive, sustainable and to make the required meaningful impact on the greater Patensie community for the purposes of the development of the historically marginalised and disadvantaged black Patensie communities.” Ms Dunjwa undocumented.

In the Amathole District Municipality, the delegation heard horrifying stories of abuse of farm workers and dwellers at the hands of land owners.
Eviction, withdrawal of services such as electricity and water, and isolating farm dwellers from nearby communities were among the strategies employed.

Ms Dunjwa called on farm dwellers and farmers to work together to resolve these long standing abuses.

She appealed to the local leaders, including the ward councillors accompanying the delegation, to assist farm dwellers in finding solutions.

In the Western Cape, the delegation visited four farms in the Cape West Coast and Cape Winelands districts.
where farm workers highlighted the challenging conditions under which they live.

In Welverdien farm in the Cape Winelands district, where the delegation concluded its oversight visit, the delegation heard allegations of physical and verbal abuse.

Farm workers told the delegation that the farmer charges them R620 per month and if a farm worker stays with a partner, the farm worker must pay an additional R210.
The delegation also heard that when children reach 18 years of age, the farm worker must pay an additional rent for them or the child must leave the farm.

On the same farm, the delegation heard that a farm worker was instructed by the farmer to expel his pregnant daughter from the house.

If he failed to do this, the farmer said he would disconnect the man’s electricity.

Inkosi Mandela regretted that the farm owner refused to meet with the delegation when the delegation invited him for an engagement.
At the Goedemoed Farm, the Department of Employment and Labour confiscated the expired passports and visas of 11 foreign nationals and handed them to the Department of Home Affairs for further action.

“We cannot allow this to continue at the expense of the 66 per cent of unemployed youth in South Africa.

These jobs have to be protected and reserved for our people,” said Inkosi Zwelivelile Mandela.
At public hearings at Matzikama Local Municipality Hall, Inkosi Mandela said that he will engage Agriculture Minister Ms Thoko Didiza on the matter of another 20 families threatened with eviction at Proefplaas Farm, which is owned by the Agricultural Research Council.

He promised to report back to the families about the outcome of this The delegation also visited Sonop farm It also held various public hearings engagement.
The farm manager assured the in the Gamtoos region of Kouga Local delegation at no foreign nationals Municipality.

The farm manager told are employed on the farm.

However, the delegation that about 80% of its Home Affairs officials accompanying employees are foreign nationals.
When the delegation discovered that this was asked by members of the delegation not the case and that the Ventershoek about their legal status to be in employee register did contain foreign South Africa, the manager assured nationals.

Despite this inconsistency, the delegation that all of them are the delegation was pleased with what documented.

it found at the farm.


To justify the big percentage of foreign Ms Lindelwa advised the manager nationals he employs, he said they rely to ensure that the farm has a on Zimbabweans for seasonal work, programme in place to empower as local people do not want to do the its workers.

“Empowerment of your work and are unreliable for work that MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Public hearings give farm workers a chance to speak their mind in front of visiting parliamentary committee delegations.
PUBLIC HEARINGS 9 Chairperson Muthambi welcomes meaningful engagement at public hearings on the National Veld and Forest Amendment Bill FIRE FIGHTING: Members of the Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries along with members of the public in KwaZulu-Natal attend public hearings on the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill.

Ms Muthambi said that these fires contribute to the economic, social and environmental degradation in the country.
“Fires threaten food security and have devastating effects that include job losses, displacement of people, habitat and biodiversity loss.” The committee heard from Mr Simon Thomas of the Fire Protection Services, an umbrella body of the Fire “Fires threaten food security and have devastating effects that include job losses, displacement of people, habitat and biodiversity loss.” Ms Faith Muthambi Protection Association (FPA), Traditional leaders in all the and Mr Bobby Holle, of the communities visited by the committee Lions River FPA.
They told welcomed the Bill, but said that rural the committee that the amendment areas find it very difficult to fight to the Bill is well supported and the fires, as they have no equipment.

associations are ready to work with the Urban areas are more advantaged committee and communities to make in this regard, they noted, as they the required amendments.

The law is clear that every land owner must are equipped with fire brigades and helicopters.

belong to a fire protection association.


Throughout the hearings, the people told the people that the committee’s called on the committee to enable report on the hearings will include all The committee Whip, Mr Ntibi Modise, young people to be empowered to their inputs.

fight veld fires.

They also spoke about the need for satellite fire stations and The report will then be tabled in the fire brigades in local municipalities National Assembly (NA), together with that have no firefighting equipment.
the amendments to the Bill.

After the Participants in the public hearings told NA adopts the Bill, it will be taken to the committee that when fires break the National Council of Provinces for its out, they lose everything, including their homes and livestock.

consideration and then to the President for assent.

Ms Faith Muthambi (second from right).


The Portfolio Committee on Environment, Forestry and Fisheries successfully concluded three days of public hearings on the National Veld and Forest Fire Amendment Bill in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), writes Sureshinee Govender.

Ms Muthambi informed those attending the hearings that the main objective of the Bill is to improve the administration of the principal Act and to insert certain definitions to enhance the functioning of the Act.
The Act promotes the prevention and combatting of wildfires in the veld, mountains and forests.

The Bill also seeks to grant more powers to traditional leaders and The Chairperson of the committee, Ms municipalities as peace officers to be Faith Muthambi, said the committee was heartened to have meaningful able to arrest people who start fires in the veld and forests.
One of its engagements with communities objectives is to ensure that the Act and organisations in packed halls in remains responsive and relevant in Vryheid, Richards Bay and in Bulwer in the field of combatting and preventing KwaZulu-Natal.

veld and forest fires.

10 INSESSION NEWS LET’S WORK TOGETHER: The Speaker of the National Assembly, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.
Cooperation among Parliaments and shared best practice strengthens services to the public, says Speaker nations, most of whom are members of the NAM Parliamentary Network.

As Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula raised the plight of the Palestinian people at the launch conference, she emphasised that these matters must be placed firmly on the agenda of the newly formed network.
The South African Parliament delegation, led by Speaker Mapisa- Nqakula, included the Deputy Chief Whip of the ruling African National Congress, Ms Dorries Dlakude, and a Member of Parliament for the United Democratic Movement, Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, the Republic of Azerbaijan was elected to host the inaugural event and thus the Speaker of the Azerbaijan Parliament was elected Chairperson of the NAM Parliamentary Network at its first meeting in Madrid in 2021.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula congratulated the Speaker of the Azerbaijan Parliament for hosting the launch conference, where the NAM Parliamentary Network’s constitution and operating model were adopted after extensive consultations with various parliaments of the NAM Participation Model (PPM) is one such multilateralism are as relevant today, example that has been used as a case Ms Mapisa-Nqakula went on to say, as study by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, they were in 1961 when 25 countries the global association of parliaments.
became the founding members of The PPM continues to improve how NAM.

This number has now grown to Parliament interfaces with citizens, 120 member states.

which in turn sustains the legitimacy of democratic parliaments beyond the The establishment of the NAM five-year election intervals.
Parliamentary Network is long overdue and its launch takes place in the Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula also noted context of numerous threats to world that the NAM Parliamentary Network peace, including the conflict between reinforces parliaments’ capacity to Russia and Ukraine.
strengthen democracy, law-making, executive oversight and public Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula pointed out participation, and enables continuous that the world order remains grossly sharing of best practices and mutual unfair to smaller and less powerful support.

developing nations, such as Palestine, Western Sahara, Cuba and the African The Speaker described the NAM continent in general.
Parliamentary Network’s launch conference as an inspiring experience These nations receive the short end As Covid-19 restrictions continue to ease around the globe, a number of sister parliaments have shared their plans to engage in study tours and exchange programmes with the South African Parliament.
During bilateral engagements with Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Parliamentary Network sessions, which took place in Azerbaijan recently, several Speakers identified the South African Parliament as one of the legislative institutions they would like to share best practices within the areas of oversight and public participation.
Reflecting on the two-day NAM Parliamentary Network launch conference, Ms Mapisa-Nqakula, who lead the South African delegation, said there is much that parliaments can learn from one another to enhance their services to their publics.

The South African Parliament’s Public that has rekindled the passions of the bargain in almost all facets member states.
of those in attendance to build a of development, including the fight better world of peace, fairness and against pandemics, as demonstrated sustainable development.

by the nationalisation of the Covid-19 Fostering democracy in the vaccine roll-out, the subjugation of Palestine and the Western international system, restructuring Sahara and the isolation of Cuba.
the global economy, disarmament, Poverty, unemployment and under- impartiality and strengthening development are greater in these The Speaker also expressed the trust that the resolutions adopted in the Baku Declaration would be pursued with vigour and executed so that the ideals espoused by the NAM founding members affect real positive change in people’s lives around the world.
INTERNATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS 11 Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula Urges the use of Dialogue, Mediation and Arbitration to prevent & stop wars The leader of the South African Parliamentary delegation to the Non- Aligned Movement’s (NAM) conference of Parliamentarians in Buka-Azerbaijan, Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, urged delegates of over 120 member states to spare no effort in promoting dialogue, mediation and arbitration to prevent and stop wars and conflict in the world.
Addressing the NAM Parliamentary Network’s inaugural meeting at the Heydar Aliyev Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan which took place at the end of June, Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula said peaceful solutions to conflicts were part of the founding principles and values of the 61years of NAM.

She praised the NAM for its contribution to fighting apartheid and colonialism and its growth from 25 to 120 Members States over the years.
She urged all members to place impartiality at the centre of any intervention to stop conflict such as the one raging between Ukraine and Russia.

The Speaker says parliamentary diplomacy is on the rise and must be strengthened to heighten parliaments’ capacity to conduct oversight and promote public participation on a global scale.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula’s PEACE AROUND THE WORLD: Some of the South African delegation (and below) to the Non-Aligned Movement’s conference of Parliamentarians in Buka-Azerbaijan.
call is in line with the conference the Covid-19 pandemic, and future Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan with the theme: “Building the Role of National outbreaks of pandemics must be Speaker of the Parliament (Milli Parliaments in Promoting Global Peace sustained for the benefit of the People Majlis) of Azerbaijan, Ms Sahiba and Sustainable Development”.

of the South through fighting vaccine Gafarova, welcoming all delegates.

She also implored Members States of nationalism.
The South African delegation led by Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula comprises the NAM Parliamentary Network to The two-day conference of the NAM the Deputy Chief Whip of the African remember and pursue the cause of Speakers and Presiding Officers held National Congress, Ms Dorries Dlakude the people of Palestine as they did in the capital city of Azerbaijan is and the Member of Parliament for in fighting apartheid and colonialism expected to endorse its constitution or the United Democratic Movement, in South Africa.
She said the NAM statute and a declaration on modalities Mr Nqabayomzi Kwankwa.

The Parliamentary Network has an for running this global movement of conference also observed and opportunity to define its goal and national Parliament that traditionally celebrated the International Day of mission through, among others, took no sides during the historical Parliamentarianism, sustaining and interventions that would free the American and Russian-led cold-war.

advancing democracy worldwide.


world of wars and subjugation of some nations such as Palestine and Western Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula emphasised The Non-Aligned Movement was Sahara.
the collaboration and cooperation formed by Heads of State and She said the fight to ensure universal Parliamentary Network, which has organise countries not aligned with the access to critical vaccines to fight the second most significant number of superpowers involved in a protracted of Members States of the NAM Government in 1961.

The aim was to member states, following cold war, to determine their policies the United Nations in the world.
She said the and programmes as sovereign states with territorial integrity and peace, enormous advances in and to advance independence and technology, medicine and fight colonialism and racism.

Egypt and science in the world provide Ghana were part of the NAM founding a unique opportunity member states.
Since then, all but two to build a better life for African countries have been affiliated, all and fight poverty, with South Africa and Eritrea being unemployment and the last countries to be affiliated after inequality, as some of the freedom in the 1990s.

Presidents most pressing challenges Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki facing the world today.
have served as Chairpersons of the NAM between 1998 and 2003, and the The conference was officially opened by President President of Azerbaijan currently holds the Chairpersonship since 2019.
12 INSESSION NEWS IPU Task Force on Russia- Ukraine reaches agreement on parliamentary diplomacy towards ending the war The Inter-Parliamentary Union Task Force (IPU-TF) to facilitate peaceful solutions to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia through parliamentary diplomacy, which was established by the IPU President, held its fourth meeting at the beginning of July.
The Speaker of the National Assembly and member of the IPU-TF, Ms Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, said the IPU-TF has developed the modalities for carrying out the mission assigned to it.

It has adopted these modalities to pave the way for starting direct engagements between the Ukrainian and Russian parliaments, preferably at a neutral venue and on a date yet to be announced.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula was optimistic about the IPU-TF’s mission to find urgent and lasting solutions to the war, which has caused untold harm, not only to the people and the infrastructure of the two nations, but also globally, as supplies of basic household necessities and food prices continue to sky-rocket.

The IPU’s efforts are another demonstration of growing parliamentary diplomacy around the globe, the Speaker said.
These efforts place parliaments at the centre of global challenges and sustainable development goals, which are traditionally left to the executive arm of the state.

Through parliamentary diplomacy, parliaments are increasingly better able to understand and oversee the international work led by the heads of state and governments through various multilateral structures, such as the Non-Aligned Movement’s Parliamentary Network (NAM-PN), which met in Azerbaijan recently.
“With a better understanding and appreciation of these global challenges, parliaments, through their exercise of effective oversight and public participation mandates, can help heads of state and the executives to drive faster changes,” said Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula.

She reaffirmed that to succeed, NAM-PN’s impartiality must form part of the operating model for the negotiation, mediation and arbitration efforts in the Ukrainian-Russian conflict.
Speaker Mapisa-Nqakula expressed hope that the IPU efforts will help narrow the gap between the two countries, secure the end of the war and build a more enabling environment for engagement and lasting peace.

The Speaker said failure was not an option, as it could lead to the escalation of hostilities.
She expressed concern about the United Nations Security Council’s missed opportunities to intervene, adding that parliaments needed to add their voices to calls for the transformation of the UN Security Council to better represent world nation demographics.

PAN-AFRICAN MOVEMENT: Ms Pemmy Majodina, the Chief Whip of the majority party, in Midrand.
South African MPs elected to serve on Pan African Parliament The Chief Whip of the African National Congress in the National Assembly (NA), Ms Pemmy Majodina, was elected to lead the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Southern Region Caucus while Mr Thembekile Majola (who represents the Democratic Alliance in the South African Parliament) was elected to the PAP Rules Committee.
The PAP met at its headquarters in Midrand, South Africa, at the beginning of July for its fourth Ordinary Session to elect leaders for various positions, including President and four Vice Presidents, as well as Chairpersons for its five caucuses (Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western and Central) and Chairpersons for the 11 permanent committees.

Ms Majodina was initially elected as the Southern Region Caucus’s interim chairperson and was then confirmed as the chairperson for a three-year term.
Following disagreement over the implementation of the “geographical rotation principle”, which resulted in the suspension of the session last year in June, for the first time since the establishment of the PAP in 2004, a delegate from the Southern regional caucus was elected to serve as President of the continental legislature.

This position has been dominated by the Eastern, Western and Central regional caucuses until now.
Only the Northern regional caucus will be eligible to put forward a name for the President position during the next election.

Mr Majola was elected to chair the PAP’s Rules Committee.

This committee’s objectives include strengthening the PAP’s parliamentary functions and partnerships, as well as its coordination, outreach and institutional capacity.

“The Rules Committee is one of the key committees in the Pan African Parliament.

We are sitting with the issue of the Rules itself that need to be changed.
So that will be the first thing I have to deal with,” said Mr Majola, who added that the institution also needs stability.

“When I am talking about stability, I am talking about administration.

As [we] were here for three [or] five days, you will see meetings have been called for 9 o’clock but they start at 11 o’clock.

It must be a parliament like other parliaments,” Mr Majola suggested.

OVERSIGHT 13 END GUN VIOLENCE: MP Mr Fikile Xasa called on Qutubeni residnets to end gun killings.
OVERSIGHT VISIT: A COGTA delegation visits an initiation school in the Eastern Cape.

MP Xasa calls for end to gun killings in Qutubeni constituency Member of Parliament Mr Fikile Xasa called on the people living in his Qutubeni constituency, which includes the surrounding villages in the Engcobo Local Municipality, to work together to end the gun killings that have so far claimed the lives of 52 people, writes Mava Lukani.
Mr Xasa appealed to traditional, community and faith-based leadership in the area along with ordinary members of the public to restore peace among the people of Qutubeni and other affected areas in Engcobo.

Citizens of Qutubeni claim that the ongoing gun killings were related to stock theft and began when the owners of the stolen livestock killed those they believed responsible for the crimes.

The suspects organised themselves into a defence unit to retaliate and the situation escalated.
To restore peace, Mr Xasa facilitated a gathering of the people of Qutubeni recently.

The Premier of the Eastern Cape, Mr Oscar Mabuyane, was in attendance, as were the Eastern Cape Commissioner of police and other senior police officers.

The Mayor of Engcobo Local Municipality, ward councillors and the Head of Sdindi Traditional Council were also present in the meeting.

At the meeting, the people of Qutubeni demanded the arrest of all the perpetrators of the violence.
They also complained about the lack of police response to the stock theft and murder.

They have lost trust in the South African Police Service (SAPS) in Engcobo, they said.

Citizens also highlighted the problem of unemployment in Engcobo and attributed stock theft to the rising unemployment and deepening poverty.

The Premier promised to support Engcobo Local Municipality’s economic development programme to ensure employment for young people.
He also promised to intervene in the problem of the lack of a road linking Engcobo with nearby towns, such as Elliot, through Qutubeni and Qebe administration area.

The police told the people gathered at the meeting that 25 cases of stock theft are open and five of them are before the court.

The police committed themselves to work closely with the people to fight stock theft and other crimes, to stop gun killings and to arrest the perpetrators.
Furthermore, the Eastern Cape SAPS commissioner promised to provide a mobile police station in Qutubeni and to provide two police vehicles to Engcobo Police Station.

COGTA - law enforcement agencies must close down unlawful Initiation Schools The Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) conducted an oversight visit to initiation schools in the OR Tambo and Amathole districts in the Eastern Cape.
The National Initiation Oversight Committee, established by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, and the Eastern Cape Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committee also formed part of the team accompanying the committee on the oversight visits to the schools.

During the oversight programme, the committee received briefings on challenges with initiation practices in Port St John’s, Ngquza Hill, King Sabatha Dalindyebo (KSD), Nyandeni and Mhlontlo local municipalities.
The committee noted that preparations for initiations at the two legally registered initiation schools it visited were done in line with the Customary Initiation Act, which came into effect on 1 September 2021.

The committee also visited KSD and Mhlontlo municipalities where eight initiates have died since the start of the season on 17 June 2022.

The committee was informed that there are 66 legal initiation schools and 68 illegal initiation schools in the OR Tambo District alone.
It also heard that the closure of illegal initiation schools was complicated by the fact that no hospital beds are available for initiates when they need them.

What is more, the erstwhile rescue centres are no longer operational due to the Covid-19 pandemic and depleted resources.

The Customary Initiation Act is clear on what action needs to be taken against illegal schools.

They must be closed down and the traditional surgeons and nurses who work in them must be arrested and charged.
The committee made it clear that law enforcement agencies should not tolerate any lawless behaviour in communities that protect illegal traditional surgeons and nurses.

In response to this, the police informed the committee that eight arrests have been made and 21 cases opened during the current initiation season.

The committee welcomed the decision taken by Matatiele in the Alfred Nzo District Municipality not to open any initiation schools this winter season due to poor weather conditions.
14 INSESSION NEWS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION: The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has concluded public hearings on the Electoral Amendment Bill.

Home Affairs committee makes progress on Electoral Amendment Bill The road to electoral reform in South Africa took another major step towards reality as the portfolio Committee on Home Affairs made meaningful progress towards conclusion of the process.
The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs is progressing well in the endeavour to complete its processes of considering the Electoral Amendment Bill, writes Malatswa Molepo.
Following a lengthy public participation process which included public hearings in all nine provinces, the committee has over the past two months set throughout the Parliamentary recess process to consider the Bill and have made substantive decisions that will pave the way to drafting the A list Bill, which will be considered by the committee.
The committee is satisfied with its work thus far and is optimistic that it has arrived at a balance between fairness for both political parties and independent candidates, and the protection of proportional representation.
To enhance fairness, the committee There were strong views that the committee has mandated legal teams decided that independent candidates stringent requirement for signatures to commence drafting the A list Bill, must have representation in liaison and payment of election deposit are including the committee’s decisions for committees, which are a critical adequate to eliminate the danger of consideration in the next meeting.

component of electoral work.

The half-hearted candidatures.


Also, there committee also agree that these was a concern that policing the cooling Meanwhile, following the decision to committees be called political liaison off period will be difficult for the IEC.
receive a summarised version of the committees to ensure that the existing The committee deferred a decision on Ministerial Committee established to literature that these committees have the cooling off clause for later to allow review all permits and visas issued used thus far continues to be used.

for consultation.
for consultation.

since 2004, the committee raised alarm at the findings presented and Regarding the prescribed minimum Regarding the clause on seat called for urgent action to remedy the requirements for candidates to allocation, a decision was taken shortcomings within the permitting participate, the committee decided that the Bill should remain with 200 section.
The committee’s concerns that an independent candidate must compensatory seats and 200 regional are based on the vulnerability of the provide at least 30 per cent of the seats, as proposed by the original system and corrupt officials, which quota of signatures for a seat in the Bill.

This allocation of seats will be undermine not only the country’s previous equivalent election.

This achieved through a single-round Droop systems, but its security as well.

decision was premised on the need quota system.


to eliminate chance takers and ensure The committee has in the meantime that only serious political parties and There was consensus that in the event welcomed the firing of six officials independent candidates participate.

of a vacancy in a seat allocated to and disciplinary processes against four There was also agreement that an independent in the legislature, more.
The committee approved the the Bill must include an electronic the seat should be filled by the recommendations presented in the verification requirement for submission next highest available independent report and instructed the department of signatures to enable the Electoral candidate or political party.

Meanwhile, to present an implementation plan Commission of South Africa (IEC) to the committee has deferred a with timelines on how it will remedy verify submitted signatures.
Also, decision on independent candidates its weaknesses in the meeting candidates must pay an election participating in one or many regions to scheduled in Parliament’s third term.

deposit to be determined by the IEC.

its next meeting to enable members to consider advice presented to the The committee also highlighted the The committee also heard that a committee, especially as it relates to urgency of digitising the department’s constitutional question may arise ranking of regions of preference.
systems to ensure the system is on the requirement for a cooling off secure.

This will improve the country’s period for independent candidates.

As a result of the decisions made, the security too.